The Indigo Plateau stadium was in complete chaos.
The sudden attack sent everyone instinctively running out of the arena.
In an instant, screams, curses, and wails filled the air. The stands had become a living hell!
A maglev train returned, bringing with it a large number of Team Rocket grunts. The gym leaders stepped forward to block their path.
However, they fell into a trap. As they gradually forced the grunts back, the gym leaders unknowingly entered the maglev train.
The next moment, the train doors closed and it sped off in the opposite direction, taking the Team Rocket grunts and gym leaders away from the Indigo Plateau!
"Just as planned. No, there's a slight deviation, but it doesn't matter."
The Masked Man—or rather, the Ice Puppet controlled by Pryce—shouted, "Go! My servant! Spread your Rainbow Wings across the sky!"
Ho-Oh opened its mouth and shot a Sacred Fire at the center of the stadium.
"Boom!"
With an explosive roar, the entire stadium was obliterated, and the powerful shockwave tore the roof apart.
"Stop right there!"
Gold and Crystal rushed out of the competitor's tunnel, fearless as they charged toward Ho-Oh.
"Lugia, Aeroblast!"
Just as Gold and his companion charged at Ho-Oh, a cyclone shot out. Seeing this, Ho-Oh immediately launched a Sacred Fire in response.
"Boom!"
An explosion many times more powerful than the last one occurred. Gold and Crystal were caught completely off guard and were sent flying by the fierce shockwave.
"This isn't something you can handle. Get back."
Ace stood on Lugia's back and spoke to the people below. His gaze then fixed on the Ho-Oh in front of him, or more accurately, the Masked Man beside it.
"So, it really was you who captured Lugia."
The Masked Man spoke. His ice mask contorted into a menacing expression. He roared at Ace, "You think a kid like you can ruin my plan?!"
With that, the Masked Man abruptly raised his hand, and a pillar of ice shot towards Ace on Lugia's back.
Ace didn't move, but his Lapras emerged from its Poké Ball, instantly blocking the ice pillar.
Cold air spread as Lapras froze the pillar the moment it made contact.
With a cry, the ice pillar shot back along its original path, heading towards the Masked Man below.
"You've grown a lot, haven't you…"
The Masked Man watched the returning ice pillar, his mind momentarily dazed. But in the next instant, Ho-Oh opened its mouth and shot a Sacred Fire, melting the ice pillar instantly.
Steam billowed out, and Ace frowned. He waved his hand, and a Crobat shot out, piercing through the vapor. It instantly launched a stream of poison toward the Masked Man.
"Crack!"
A wall of ice blocked the poison. The Masked Man used this opening to leap out and rush into the crowd, grabbing a person and lifting them up.
"Grandpa!"
Chihiro looked at the Masked Man in terror. The person he had grabbed was the Steel Master!
"You… you bastard…"
The Steel Master struggled to break free, but it was too late. The Masked Man ripped open the Steel Master's jacket and took the scroll from inside.
"Give it back!"
The Steel Master fell to the ground, glaring at the Masked Man as he opened the scroll.
"Hmm, it really is here."
The Masked Man glanced at the scroll, then threw it back to the Steel Master. "The Poké Ball for capturing the Time Pokémon—I finally know!"
"You jerk!"
Gold charged forward on his Typhlosion, lunging with a pool cue aimed at the Masked Man's head.
"Insignificant!"
The Masked Man flung his arm, sending both Typhlosion and Gold flying.
Gold slammed hard into a wall. Gritting his teeth, he roared, "Now!"
"Got it!"
Crystal and her Xatu leapt out of the rubble. As they drew the Masked Man's attention, an invisible attack struck the Masked Man's legs.
"Thud!"
The Masked Man's legs were severed at the base, and his body crashed heavily onto the ground.
"Who's the arrogant one now?!"
Seeing the Masked Man on the ground, Gold became smug. He walked over, poked the Masked Man's body with his pool cue, and said triumphantly, "You still lost to me in the end!"
"Get lost!"
Just then, the Masked Man sat up instantly and swung his arm, blasting Gold away like a cannonball.
If Typhlosion hadn't lunged forward to catch him, the blow would have been enough to cause a fatal head injury!
"How is that possible?!"
To Crystal's shocked gaze, the Masked Man stood up again. He created new legs out of ice and leapt, landing once more beside Ho-Oh.
Meanwhile, Lugia and Ho-Oh had begun to fight, sending feathers flying everywhere. A Delibird darted out and effortlessly retrieved two tail feathers in mid-air.
The next moment, the Masked Man hopped onto Delibird's back. Delibird immediately took off, carrying him out of the ruined stadium.
"Damn it! He got away!"
Gold shook his dizzy head. He saw the Masked Man escaping the moment he came over.
"What about that cocky guy? Why didn't he stop him?!"
Gold slammed his fist on the ground, roaring with frustration, "I'm going after him!"
But just as Gold rose to his feet to give chase, a Gengar slowly appeared, blocking his and Crystal's path.
"This is my master's battle now. You guys should just wait patiently," Gengar thought to itself. It then used Hypnosis on Gold and Crystal.
Afterward, Gengar grabbed them, one in each hand, and tossed them to Typhlosion and Meganium.
Typhlosion and Meganium caught their trainers. When they looked back at Gengar, it had vanished without a trace!
...
"Just a little longer, just a little longer and it will be complete…"
Having abandoned Ho-Oh, the Masked Man was flying quickly towards the Ilex Forest. He swiftly wove the two feathers into a capture net.
Placing it into a Poké Ball, a brand new GS Ball soon appeared in the Masked Man's hand.
"Looks like you've finished."
Just as the Masked Man was looking at the GS Ball with excitement, a voice brought him back to reality.
Delibird slowly stopped. The reason was that an Aerodactyl was flapping its wings, blocking their path.
Aerodactyl was holding Ace by the shoulder. Ace looked directly at the Masked Man and said with a hint of sorrow, "Don't go on like this. The past is just the past. You need to look forward, Pryce!"
Ace's voice echoed in the sky. The Masked Man slowly lowered his head, and an aura of extreme coldness slowly emanated from his body…